The Childishness Wars – Protect the Boss

I am now a week behind here, but I just watched episodes 3-5 of Protect the Boss.

The theme that is emerging is one that I didn’t expect–and that is, how *all* the characters have faces of childishness. I mean, what is up with these bicker twins?

they also look good together -- a forbidden love?!

The hate is so strong, you can almost feel the love coming on…

Even Madame Grandmother, hiding her face from Eun-Suel to spare herself embarrassment and continue to be just a humble granny to her, the way she’s still emotionally where her son is, and they reflect each other in their troubles.

she's a bit rogueish like her male descendants, too, really

As is right, Cha Ji-Heon continues to have the mannerisms of a boy, not even a young man.

Auntie's right, Ji Heon is a bad influence on him - these two always have motion blur in their caps together

This impression is reinforced in all his brightly colored outfits (if he wears a proper suit, it’s in blues instead of black or gray or white) that sometimes veer more toward *cliches* of school-children clothes than what kids actually even wear. It’s hilarious…

the backpack always helps

And yet, the acting itself is touching. Even when he gets turned down by No Eun Seul, his stages of realization are that of a small boy’s, not a man’s. Not understanding…

biting his nails, to let it sink in

pretending it’s not a big deal…

okay, okay, that's fine

and deciding to just keep on with it and wait till her mind changes!

EXTORTION how cute

I love this. The fact that the actor’s excellence is making me notice the details is only because I’m paying attention; it feels really natural. And it actually heightens the moments he’s showing darker emotions, the way it’s not the predictable manly-emoting of many heroes.

It’s also awesome how firm she is about propriety…and I really think she doesn’t feel strongly for him either way at this point.

He likes her, and is equally forthcoming and firm about that, which is also refreshing! This is an organic conflict that feels much more lifelike than the usual tears because someone’s family is too good, or their pasts are conflicting.